HIQA has published its health technology assessment (HTA) of shingles (herpes zoster) vaccination for adults, following a public consultation that took place earlier this year.

The Authority undertook this assessment at the request of the Department of Health following a clinical recommendation from the national immunisation advisory committee (NIAC). This HTA has been submitted as advice to the Minister for Health to inform a policy decision on whether to provide shingles vaccination as part of the adult immunisation programme in Ireland.

Dr Conor Teljeur, HIQA’s Chief Scientist, said: “We are grateful to all who participated in the public consultation. The input we received was carefully considered in this final assessment, and much of it is reflected in sections regarding burden of the disease, patient aspects and social aspects.

“Our assessment concludes that the shingles vaccine is safe and effective, but that the benefit of the vaccine decreases over time. We found that, at the current vaccine price, adding shingles vaccination to the routine immunisation schedule for the general population aged 50 years and older would not be an efficient use of HSE resources.”

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles causes a painful, blister-like rash. While some people experience severe disease or continue to experience pain for months, or even years, for most people symptoms normally resolve within a month.

Feedback from the public consultation highlighted the significant impact that shingles can have on individuals who experience longer-term complications. While shingles vaccines are available in Ireland, the HSE does not currently provide free vaccination — people must pay to be vaccinated.

The incidence and severity of shingles increases with age, with most cases occurring in people over the age of 50 years. People who are immunocompromised are also at increased risk of shingles and experiencing a severe disease course. HIQA assessed the impact of providing shingles vaccination for adults aged 50 years and older, and for those aged 18 years and older who are at increased risk due an immunocompromising condition or treatment.

The HTA is available here – https://www.hiqa.ie/sites/default/files/2024-07/HZ-vaccination-HTA.pdf

HIQA has today launched a public consultation on amending the scope of the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare (2012) to include private hospitals.

The Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023, which is expected to commence this year, expands HIQA’s standard-setting and monitoring functions to private hospitals. HIQA is engaging with new and existing health service providers to prepare for the new requirements under the Act.

The National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare contain 45 standards. The current scope of these standards include all healthcare services (excluding mental health) provided or funded by the HSE. The standards were developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and review of research evidence. They have been used by HIQA since 2012 to inspect, monitor and investigate healthcare services.

In preparation for the commencement of the Patient Safety Act, HIQA has launched a public consultation on amending the scope of the standards to include private hospitals. This will facilitate monitoring in private hospitals against the national standards by HIQA, on commencement of the Patient Safety Act.

Ms Rachel Flynn, HIQA’s Director of Health Information and Standards, said: “The National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare support the enablement of person-centred, safe and effective healthcare services. The standards equip service providers with a structure for achieving high-quality care and support for patients.”

The Patient Safety Act 2023 is an important piece of legislation that expands HIQA’s remit significantly. Ms Flynn continued: “This update will be a welcome development for many patients who avail of services in private hospitals, as it will ensure consistency across both public and private hospitals.”

Once finalised, the standards will be used by HIQA for inspecting and monitoring all healthcare services under its remit, including private hospitals.

HIQA is inviting the feedback of members of the public and health service providers on amending the scope of the standards to include private hospitals and welcomes their views. The deadline for submissions is Friday 12 April 2024.

The consultation documents can be found here: https://www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/consultation/public-consultation-amendment-scope-national-standards-safer